86 
THF TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. [August i, 1889. 
THE PAMPAS PLUME INDUSTBY. 
The Pampas Grass (Gynerium argenteum) is a 
native of the Pampas plains of South America, and 
was introduced into the United States about 1848. 
It is not sufficiently hardy to stand the rigour of 
Northern winters, but is in the cold parts of this 
couutry [United States] frequently planted on the 
lawn in summer, and upon the approach of cold 
weather is transplanted into a tub, and carried into the 
cellar. In California it is perfectly hardy, and _ a 
hill will sometimes attain a height of 20 feet, a dia- 
meter as great, and a weight of 2,000 pounds. The^e 
would be quite inconvenient for our Northern friends 
to handle in the cellar. The plants are easily pro- 
duced from seed, but as the sex and variety are 
very uncertain, they are usually multiplied by di- 
vidiug the female plants, the plumes of which are 
much more beautiful than those of the male. 
For many years the Pampas Grass was grown only 
for ornament, but in 1874 the difference in sex was 
discovered, and since that time the industry has 
gradually increased. 
In 1872 I planted seed ; in two years several hun- 
dred of the plants produced plumes. Many of these 
were sold when small plants to persons purchasing 
them purely for ornamental purposes, but the vari- 
ations in shades and fineness were very marked. 
In 1874 the discovery was made that by pulling 
the immature plumes from the sheaths, and exposing 
them to the hot sun, the male plumes would hang 
heavily, like Oats, while the female would fluff up 
and become light and airy. 
We saved a quantity of the female plumes, some 
of which were sold in Santa Barbara, while others 
were sent to San Francisco in November, 1874. Sam- 
ples were also sent to Peter Henderson & Co., of 
New York. Three hundred were ordered at once, 
and the following day instructions were received to 
double the order and send by express. This was 
the first lot of good plumes ever sent East from 
California, and was the beginning of the present Pam- 
pas industry. 
My plantation has been extended to 5,000 hills, and 
there are a number of other quite extensive plant- 
ings in the neighbourhood of Santa Barbara. The 
plumes shipped from Santa Barbara have the repu- 
tation of being, and are undoubtedly, the finest 
sent to market. The crop this year is estimated 
at 1,000,000 plumes. The demand for the last two 
years has been good, but the prices have never been 
so high as they were at the beginning of the indus- 
try— 200 dols. per 1,000 plumes. The decrease in 
price was gradual until 1886, when sales were slow 
at 30 dols. per 1,000. Some of the growers did not 
harvest their crops that year, and destroyed their 
plants. In the fall of 1887 plumes were in demand 
at 40 dols. per 1,000 and in 1888 they were scarce 
at 50 dols. and 60 dols. per 1,000 so this winter 
there will be a large increase in acreage. 
Pampas Grass plants should be put on the best 
valley land, at a distance of 10 by 16 feet apart. 
Some are planted closer, 8 by 10, and 10 by 10 feet ; 
but if they are to be allowed to become old plants, 
it is better to give plenty of room. Before plant- 
ing, the land should be ploughed deep and put into 
first-class order. Iu selecting stock, divide only fe- 
male plants that produce the finest white plumes. 
Young liills produce the best plants. From old hills 
the best plants are obtained around the outside, 
those in the cmi l re of the stool b«iug mostly worth- 
less unless planted in large clumps. They will pro- 
duce some plumes the first year, not first siza, but 
worth saving. The tccond year they ought to pro- 
duce from 80 to 150 plumes to the hill, if well giown, 
though not all plantations will do this well. The 
third year the crop will bo about the same. From 
that time onwaru the plume-, d< crra.se in number, 
but art; larger and finer. At thin stage the plants 
can be improved by trimming or burning away the 
dead portions. When the plumes commence to make 
their appearance it is a signal for great activity 
among those who have latjge fields, and everything 
•b put into shape, SO that there will be no hindrances. 
The grass should be so trimmed early in September, 
before the plumes appear, that each hill may be easy 
of access. Young plants produce two to three weeks 
earlier than old one?, and some varieties are earlier 
than others. It requires exercise of judgment to 
pick the plumes at the proper time. They are generally 
ready when they are exposed from the husk a few 
inches, and have a fluffy look. It is well to try a 
few at this stage, and if they cure well at the stem 
end when dry, they are all right, but if they do not 
fluff up at the stem end they have been picked too 
young. If the plume looks dark and seedy at the 
top when cured, it was too old when picked. Some 
varieties, especially those producing very long plumes, 
should be allowed to remain somewhat longer on 
the plant than the plumes of the short producing 
varieties. By trying a few of each variety that may 
be in your planting, the time of ripening can soon 
be ascertained. As the plumes are cut in the field 
they are taken to the husking-bench to have the husk 
or sheath removed. This is done in several ways ; 
some pull them out, but if this is not cleverly done 
much injury results. The best way is to set a knife 
sufficiently high to split the husk, but not injure 
the plume ; when the husk has been split, a quick 
jerk or strike on the table will extract the plume. 
From here the plumes are carried to the drying- 
ground, and evenly spread in long rows. This ground 
should be made smooth 'and free from any trash 
liable to adhere to the drying crop. It takes three 
days and two nights for the plumes to cure, and 
they Rhould be shaken and turned once each day 
while curing. They are next packed away as broad 
and smooth as possible, on wide shelves, in airy 
buildings. 
They should lie there from ten days to two weeks, 
or until the stems are thoroughly dried, at which time 
they are ready for market. 
In preparing for shipment, one, two, or three 
grades should be made, according to the market to 
which they go. If shipped by express, they should 
be packed in bales of say 2,000 plumes. A covering 
of canvas or burlap, and some light strips of wood 
at the corners, will complete the package. If ship- 
ping is done by freight, it does not make much 
difference as to the size of the boxes used, provided 
they are not less than 4 feet long. A good-sized 
box is one 4 feet long, 2 feet 2 inches wide, and 
3 feet 2 inches deep. A box of this size will hold 
about 3,000 first-class plumes. If packed smooth and 
straight there is no danger from tight packing, and 
very heavy weights can be used. They can be easily 
restored to their original beauty by exposure to heat 
and a gentle shaking. The largest demand for the 
last few years has been from England and Germany. 
The Pampas plume is used exclusively for decorative 
purposes, and when used on a large scale makes a 
grand display. Many are used in the making of dried 
grass bouquets, &c. Pretty dried grass holiday cards, 
in which the Pampas is the chief ingredient, are 
made in Germany, and sent to California to be sold 
as souvenirs.— Joseph Sexton, Santa Barbara, in " Cali- 
fornia Florist and Gardener." — Gardeners' Chronicle. 
COTTON CULTIVATION IN CEYLON. 
The species of cotton which are now in cultivation 
in various parts are chiefly two. one a native of the 
Old AVorld and the other of the new. The former 
species is successfully cultivated in several districts 
of Imiia and of this the Tinnevelly cotton is a fair 
sample, The other species known as the American 
cotton is also cultivated iu India. Both species claim 
our attention. A low country, a dry climate and a 
short rainy season seem to be favourable conditions 
for the growth of the Tiunevelly cotton and for ceu- 
turies this variety has been successfully grown in South 
India. Years ago it wns grown in Ceylon; and if 
the cotton industry has of late been almost abandoned 
among us, the oircum<tance is due not to un- 
favourable soil and other conditions of growth, but 
(•o the. difficulty experienced in finding a ready sale 
jor the produce. One of the European races who in 
